Help/advice for building an engine, ideas, specs, cost, etc

[meta]

hey there matty and decks,

thanks for the feedback and insight, yeah, the only reason i was hesitant to take on the 1.8 was that i hadn't fully researched that option yet, like i said, i've had previous bad experiences with helping other mates out with engine swaps and i wasn't too keen to go done that path all over again, but as for the NB motor, if it is that much easier to swap over, it sounds like a sounds idea, i'm assuming you guys did this yourself?

The only issue i have is that i'll be away, so doing the weekend work with mates is a no go for a couple of months, so it'll have to be shop done, which could set me back a nice price in labor... ...either way guys, thanks for the feedback, it's much appreciated

Also, matty if you don't mind me asking, you mentioned you blew a lot on the 1.6, what exactly did you do? and what gains did you get out of it? i'm guessing that it wasn't a worth while investment, but i can't help but ask anyway?

Thanks meta

[little decks]

i'm assuming you guys did this yourself?

I do alot of stuff on the MX-5s with my dad, he builds alot of race engines for guys down in NSW both turbo and NA. He does mods on road cars and has done a few 1.8 conv.

He says that the 1.6 isn't worthwhile when the 1.8 conv. is really qite simple, as well as the slightly bigger pool of aftermarket 1.8 goodies

[Matty]

I haven't done a swap myself, but I've read enough about it to know that it would be worthwhile. A mate's done it, NB8A motor into his 1.6, running a Megasquirt and a mazdaspeed intake cam, it goes quite nicely.

I redid a 1.6 motor after my old one was leaking oil, pulled the head off, ported, gasket matched, just a minor cleanup really. It was only a beesdick more powerful on the dyno than a dead standard one, and twice the price of an NB motor...

For comparison, dyno numbers I've had are along the following lines:
standard 1.6: ~55kW
1.6 with intake and exhaust: 65 kW
standard NB 1.8: 73kW

[stevesports]

i've got a NB8B engine (the one with SVT), and all i have is a high flow cat, cat back exhaust and pod filter and i dynoed it at 91kw at the wheels. I imagine that now i got rid of the carbon build up in the intake manifold and following a service, i would be able to net maybe 94-95kw at the wheels.

therefore, very basic modifications and you should be able to exceed your goals =]. Hopefully it helps.

[Okibi]

My 99 NB engine with catback and pod was 82kw. (different dyno obviously)

[16bit]

yep my 98 nb8a with full loch stewart exhaust and k and n typhoon intake was 87.

[Matty]

Guys, please don't confuse matters with different numbers from different dynos.

The relevant part of the numbers I wrote (and backed up by the OEM flywheel figures) is that
a) an NB motor has about 30% more power than a standard 1.6, with both in standard trim, and
b) a 1.6 motor with minor mods still puts out less than a standard NB motor...

So you can spend huge dollars on a 1.6 with high comp pistons, cams, head work, lots of revs, and hours of dyno tuning and get some (probably unreliable) power that way, or you can start with a 1.8 and do a much less highly strung engine for the same result, more torque, more reliability and less cost.

[adamjp]

The relevant part of the numbers I wrote (and backed up by the OEM flywheel figures) is that
a) an NB motor has about 30% more power than a standard 1.6, with both in standard trim, and
b) a 1.6 motor with minor mods still puts out less than a standard NB motor...

So you can spend huge dollars on a 1.6 with high comp pistons, cams, head work, lots of revs, and hours of dyno tuning and get some (probably unreliable) power that way, or you can start with a 1.8 and do a much less highly strung engine for the same result, more torque, more reliability and less cost.

To some extent, yes. My 1.6 is fairly worked but I'd be surprised if it has more than 100kw at the flywheel. That is not too hard to get from a fairly stock late model BP engine with the VVT etc.